Kingdom of Nozama
Nozama 黎澤茻 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2976 BCE–1513 BCE | |||||||
| Capital | Tanken | ||||||
| Common languages | Old Namorese | ||||||
| Religion | Txoism | ||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||
| Eight Matriarchs | |||||||
• 2976 - 2877 BCE | Nushen (first) | ||||||
• 2324 - 2281 BCE | Kungna (last) | ||||||
| Twelve Patriarchs | |||||||
• 2281 - 2199 BCE | Pokung (first) | ||||||
• 1531 - 1513 BCE | Movang (last) | ||||||
| History | |||||||
• Established | 2976 BCE | ||||||
• Division | 2281 BCE | ||||||
• Disestablished | 1513 BCE | ||||||
| |||||||
| Today part of |  Namor | ||||||
Nozama (黎澤茻) was an ancient kingdom based in the the Nozama River Valley of present-day Namor that supposedly lasted for nearly 1,460 years.
According to tradition, Nozama was established in 2976 BCE after the goddess Nushen united the peoples of the Nozama River Valley against the demon king Teyu. For the next seven centuries, Nozama was ruled by a dynasty of queens collectively known as the Eight Matriarchs. Under the Eight Matriarchs, Nozama expanded southward and brought the Nan peoples under its control. At its height, it is said to have spanned from Tanken Lake in the north to Namo in the south.
The rule of the matriarchs came to an end when Queen Kungna was assassinated by his son Pokung, leading to a civil war that split the kingdom into two. Pokung and his successors, who became known as the Twelve Patriarchs, ruled over the northern Nozama Valley, while the southern Nozama River Valley became the kingdom of Namora (known by historians as Kanamora to distinguish it from Namora, the Namorese name for the modern country of Namor).
Nozama and Namora existed side-by-side until Namora invaded Nozama in 1513 BCE and deposed Movang, the last patriarch.
The historicity of Nozama is a subject of debate. While there is archaeological evidence that supports the existence of a centralized government in the Nozama River Valley around the 3rd millennium BCE, Nozama was not mentioned in writing until the Kanamora era over a thousand years later, leading some to believe Nozama was a mythical kingdom concocted by Kanamora historians for political purposes. The official history of Namor asserts that Nozama did exist, but leaves the historicity of some rulers and events of the Nozama era an open question.
Because of its legendary status, Nozama has been beautified by Namorese as the ideal kingdom where rulers were competent and compassionate towards the people, while all people lived in prosperity and treated each other as equals.
Traditional narrative
Eight Matriarchs
Nushen, a daughter of the supreme god Songte who was raised on Earth, proclaimed herself queen of the Nozama River Valley after defeating Nali, a false queen who seized the throne at the behest of the demon king Teyu. Nushen led Nozama in repelling Teyu's attacks and eventually killed him in the Battle of Xhidu. After order was restored to the universe, Songte divided the world between Nushen and her sisters. Nushen received the land stretching from Tanken Lake to the "Fault of Nushen," a line Nushen had drawn on the ground with her sword to signal her separation from Vanho. The exact location of the Fault of Nushen is disputed; however, some scholars have claimed that the fault is the eastern tributary of the Nozama River.
Nushen is said to have ruled for 105 years and given birth to a hundred children before returning to her birthplace in heaven. Despite having 99 sons, she named Diyona, her only daughter and youngest child, as her successor after Diyona quelled a great flood that threatened to destroy the country.